The Complete UK Car Shipping Checklist: Everything Before You Book

Start by confirming your V5C logbook is in your name and free of outstanding finance — a car with an HPI marker or unresolved finance agreement can be refused loading at the port. Book your shipping slot at least six weeks ahead for popular routes like Southampton to Mombasa or Tilbury to Lagos, since vessel space fills quickly in peak season (March-May and September-November). Request written confirmation of the booking reference, sailing date and cut-off date for vehicle drop-off, and compare this against our 2026 cost guide to check your quote is in line with current market rates. If your destination requires a pre-shipment inspection or export certificate, arrange this now rather than the week of departure.

Notify your UK motor insurer of the export date so your policy is cancelled or paused correctly, and arrange marine transit insurance separately — standard UK car insurance does not cover ocean transit. See our dedicated guide on car shipping insurance costs for typical premiums, which usually run 1-2% of the vehicle's declared value. If there is any outstanding finance on the vehicle, obtain written settlement or a letter of consent from the finance company; without this, most shippers will refuse to load the car and customs at the destination will reject the import documents.

Reduce the fuel tank to under a quarter full — this is a safety requirement on nearly all vessels and containers, and overfilled tanks can result in the shipment being refused at the terminal gate. Disconnect or remove the battery if travelling by container to reduce fire risk, unless your shipper's terminal instructions say otherwise. Remove all personal belongings; customs in most countries treat undeclared items found inside an exported vehicle as smuggled goods, which can trigger fines and delays. Wash the car thoroughly (agricultural residue and mud can trigger biosecurity holds in Australia and New Zealand) and photograph every panel, the odometer and the interior from multiple angles, timestamped, as your damage-claim evidence.

Prepare copies of your passport, the V5C, the sales invoice or ownership document, and any import permit already issued by the destination country. If you're shipping to South Africa, Kenya, or another right-hand-drive-friendly market, check whether you also need a carnet de passages if the vehicle will later be driven across additional borders. Confirm exactly which UK port you're dropping the car at and the terminal's opening hours — some, like Southampton's Solent terminal, only accept RoRo vehicles during a narrow morning drop-off window.

Arrive at least 30-60 minutes before your allotted slot with the original V5C (or export copy), your booking confirmation, two sets of keys, and photo ID. A port agent will conduct a condition report alongside you — insist on being present for this and photograph the same report yourself. You'll be issued a dock receipt or interim bill of lading; keep this safe, as it's your proof of handover and the reference your shipper will use to issue the full bill of lading once the vessel departs.

Most UK shippers provide a tracking reference or vessel name and voyage number within a few days of sailing. Use this to monitor progress via the shipping line's website, and set a calendar reminder for the estimated arrival date so you can arrange customs clearance and onward transport at the destination in good time — port storage fees typically start accruing after 5-7 free days and can reach £25-£50 per day thereafter.

Have your customs broker or agent ready at the destination port before the vessel docks. Provide them with the bill of lading, invoice, V5C and any import permit in advance so clearance can begin immediately, minimising storage charges. Once cleared, arrange final inland transport or collect the vehicle yourself, checking it against your pre-shipment photographs for any transit damage before signing the final release form.